France National Team Coach Didier Deschamps said that they could not play at the maximum level against Spain and they made more mistakes.
Deschamps, in his statement after the 2-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final, said, "It is obvious that Spain is strong, and they proved it. We, on the other hand, were a little below the level. We made mistakes. We made more technical mistakes than we have ever made." he said.
Stating that defender Saliba's injury and Rabiot's yellow card affected them negatively, the experienced coach said, "You need to be at the maximum level in such a match against such a team, and the French team was not at that level tonight. Of course, there is disappointment, the players were a little depressed in the dressing room and I understand that. There was ambition, there was a combative group, so it hurts to stay here." he said.
Deschamps answered the question about the referee's management: "I will not go into this issue now. Finally, let me ask you a question, the fourth and fifth referees were at a high level because I could talk to them. They saw the same thing as me. Now I am asking you, I will not answer it myself, I do not want to seem like someone who constantly cries because we lost. Was this referee at the level to referee a World Cup semi-final? You can answer this if you want. I will not answer." he replied.
Deschamps, who played his last match with the French National Team, when asked about his career planning, said, "Now is not the time for this. I am very happy and proud of what we have done with the national team to reach this world championship level. For keeping the French National Team at the highest level in 2018, and also in the final 4 years ago. This is the way it is. As a football player, I had the chance to experience very happy moments. Today is not a very happy moment, but it is necessary to accept defeat without forgetting everything that happened." he said.